Jack Byrne (footballer, born 1996)


Jack Byrne is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers and the Republic of Ireland national football team. Byrne plays predominantly as a central midfielder, though he can also operate as an attacking midfielder or as a winger.

Club career

Early career

Byrne started playing football for St Kevin's Boys, Dublin, Ireland, at the age of five and moved to England to join Manchester City at the age of 15. In the 2014–15 season Byrne scored six goals in eight UEFA Youth League games for Manchester City under-19.
In the summer of 2015, Byrne joined Eredivisie side Cambuur on loan. After missing the first six weeks of the season due to an ankle injury picked up in pre-season, Byrne made his professional debut on 19 September in a match against FC Twente.
On 29 June 2016, Byrne joined EFL Championship club Blackburn Rovers. He went on to make 4 league appearances for the club before Blackburn cancelled his season long loan on 6 January 2017.

Wigan Athletic

Later in January 2017, Byrne joined Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-and-a-half year deal. He made his debut for the club as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 victory over Rotherham on 8 April 2017.

Oldham Athletic

On 15 January 2018, Byrne signed for Oldham Athletic for an undisclosed fee on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He was suspended by the club for an undisclosed, off the field incident and subsequently released by Oldham Athletic on 31 August 2018, despite fan protests.

Kilmarnock

Soon after his release from Oldham, it was confirmed that Byrne had signed for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock on a one-year-deal.

Shamrock Rovers

On 7 December 2018, Byrne joined League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers. His first goal for the club was a spectacular strike in a 3-0 home win over Sligo Rovers on 15 March. After several strong performances Byrne was named Premier Division Player of the Month for March and again for July. He scored once and assisted five times in Rovers' Europa League ties against SK Brann and Apollon Limassol.
He helped Shamrock Rovers to the 2019 FAI Cup Final in the Aviva Stadium where they faced holders Dundalk F.C.. Rovers won the game 4-2 after a Penalty shoot-out and won the Cup for the first time in 7 years.

International career

Byrne has represented his native Ireland up to Under-21 level. He made his début for his country's Under-21 team when he was just 18 years old. He has since won 10 caps. He was called up to train with the Irish senior team by manager Martin O'Neill in March 2016, ahead of friendly matches against Switzerland and Slovakia, though Byrne did not feature in either game, instead returning to the Under-21 squad ahead of 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifying matches against Italy and Slovenia.
In March 2019, Byrne was called into the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group D matches against Gibraltar on 23 March and Georgia on 26 March.
He was recalled to the national team in August 2019, making his international debut on 10 September, 2019, coming off the bench and creating an assist in a 3-1 win over Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium.

Honours

Club

;Shamrock Rovers

Personal life

Byrne lost his father, John, when Jack was 11 years old.